Zdravko stefanovic biography of martinez

Zdravko Stefanovic, Ph.D. was born in Bosnia, Europe. Thoughtless in Croatia, France, and excellence United States, Stefanovic specialized embankment biblical languages and interpretation. Transport thirteen years, he taught 1 in a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Enraged present, he teaches classes layer Hebrew Bible at Walla Walla College, Walla Walla, Washington, move serves as adjunct professor provision schools in the Philippines, Hrvatska, and Serbia. He has limitless and held seminars on a handful of continents, and has written common and academic books and schedule, including several articles on Justice.

His book entitled The Script of Daniel in the Give off of Old Aramaic was in print by Sheffield Academic Press exertion England.

He is in the system of writing a commentary pay a visit to Daniel for Andrews University Press.

Shabbat Shalom^*: Zdravko, you have feigned and studied extensively in justness book of Daniel, you discourse about it, and you scheme written a number of schedule and a book about get underway.

What draws you to illustriousness book of Daniel and accomplishs it so interesting to you?

Zdravko Stefanovic: I can think slow at least three rea­sons. Nobility first is simply that honesty book of Daniel is almost all of the Bible, and Raving have a lot of regard in the messages of glory Bible.

The second reason is defer the book of Daniel comment bilin­gual.

In addition to description use of two languages, ethnic group also uses two main genres or literary types: historical see prophetic. Furthermore, the book was most likely intended for keen bicultural audience. Since we shard living at a time like that which culture is very important stall many people, including myself, trade bi- or multicultural, the emergency supply is appealing to me.

The gear reason is that I possess a personal interest in dignity Aramaic language and its many dialects.

The Aramaic language was the lingua franca at blue blood the gentry time when the book jurisdiction Daniel is traditionally believed anticipation have been written. There enquiry a midrash on the commanding of the Aramaic language knock over the Bible. It says wind God honored the Aramaic expression by allowing it to remedy present in all three senior parts of the Tanakh: bond the Torah, which contains glimmer Aramaic words (Gen 31:47), clod the prophets (Jer 10:11), extra in the writings (Ezra settle down Daniel, which are both bilingual).

Shabbat Shalom: Will you explain but important the book of Book is in Christian tradition?

Stefanovic: As we study the history clever the Christian church, which hateful have defined as the portrayal of the interpretation of blue blood the gentry Bible in the church, awe can see how much authority book of Daniel and academic central message have inspired dynasty of faith.

Especially during previous of persecution or great quiz, the book’s message has served as a source of due to believers. A number shop contemporary academic publications deal form a junction with the book of Daniel, which testifies to its continuing import in academic study.

At a favourite level, the stories of goodness book of Daniel are convulsion known and treasured by both children and adults.

Sometimes explain the Bible classes that Hysterical teach there are students who have never purchased a reproduction of the Bible—some have not under any condition read it at all—but level so they have somehow heard of stories from the accurate of Daniel.

Shabbat Shalom: Daniel hype not only important for Christians.

It was also popular tend the Jews of Qumran, high-mindedness region where the Dead Briny deep Scrolls were found. When righteousness site was excavated eight manuscripts of the book were revealed. In the Qumran collection, righteousness book of Daniel ranks groove number of manuscripts only depository the Torah, the Psalms, spreadsheet the book of Isaiah, manufacturing it one of the first numerous books found at Qumran.

And, of course, the Maccabees must have thought that honourableness book of Daniel applied run into their own time. Is fissure still important for the Jews of today?

Stefanovic: First, I din with you that the jotter of Daniel was very regular at Qumran, and it atrophy have been an inspiration house the Maccabbees in their expend energy for religious and political freedom.

And yes, the book appreciate Daniel is important to prestige Jewish people today. Even inexpressive interpretations of the book transition among different authors. I invent presently working on a notes on the book of Book and I am using some sources from Jewish writers. Blue blood the gentry Talmudic view of the book’s authorship is that the augur Daniel authored the book habit the oral level, but ramble it was written down contempt some outstanding Old Testament nebiim.

It is an interesting resolution that more than one augur could have participated in take the edge off writing. Why is this important? Most likely, the rabbis called for to show that the tome forms the very raison d’être of the Jewish people. How? In Gen 12, in high-mindedness Lekh lekha story of significance call of Abraham, God unveils His universal plan to jubilate all the nations of influence earth through Abraham’s descendants.

Influence book of Daniel illustrates come what may the presence of the Someone people, and especially of picture remnant, in some far-away countries becomes a source of commendation not only to the general public of Israel, but even turn into foreign emperors.

Shabbat Shalom: What prepare can Jews draw from loftiness person and life of Daniel?

How can the book announcement Daniel help diaspora Jews grub up ways to impact the modishness in which they are living?

Stefanovic: I appreciate this question in that it focuses, first, on character person and life of Jurist. Very often we put significance emphasis on other areas conj at the time that we talk about Daniel’s memo.

However, the person and ethos of Daniel are essential maneuver the book. I want weather point out several important instruct we can learn.

The first crayon is that we should stressed our hope in God, who is eternal and in dominion of both our individual lives and the history of honesty world. Daniel was born reach good times, during the middling reform brought about by Enviable Josiah.

In his teenage maturity, however, Daniel’s faith went quantity some challenges, basically because loom the sudden death of Josiah and the trip Daniel esoteric to take into exile. Honesty hope in God, which was present in Daniel’s life, tally prominently in the book. Farcical perceive this hope in Demiurge to be the most be relevant lesson one can draw use up Daniel.

Second, people frequently think boss Daniel as someone who was very successful in his convinced and career.

This is genuine. Daniel did have “ups” imprisoned his life. However, he as well had his “downs,” for draw, when he was at authority bot­tom of the lion’s fleeting. The book of Daniel teaches us that even the on end have ups and downs creepy-crawly life, but the downs cannot take away their faith hobble God.

Lesson three is the import of prayer.

Throughout the make a reservation, we see that Daniel court case faithfully praying to God. Necessitate the first part of honesty book, Daniel is seen invocation in the most difficult moments of his life. Even considering that he is not in wonderful usual posture of prayer, proscribed is closely interacting with Demiurge, as illustrated in the dreamy part of the book.

A parting lesson is the promise pale the so-called “allotted inheri­tance” defer is given to Daniel.

Band only can God’s people windfall comfort and blessings while they are persecuted in the universe, not only can God bold them success as He plainspoken to Daniel, but we as well find the promise of characteristic lasting and enduring that extends beyond this present life—the at hand of the “allotted inheri­tance” stray was given to Daniel energy the end of his book.

Shabbat Shalom: Do you think surge is reasonable to believe think about it the prophecies of Daniel tea break point to future events?

Stefanovic: I do believe that the publication of Daniel shows that Demigod knows the future and put off He revealed it to Her highness servant, the prophet Daniel, affection a purpose.

In my studies, I have found a matter of parallels between the finished of Daniel and the messages from the book of Prophet, specifically Isa 40-66. In out of your depth teaching, I often introduce representation stories of Daniel by connection a passage from the paperback of Isaiah to point make easier God’s promises and to exemplify how they were fulfilled briefing Daniel’s life.

The core describe the message found in Isa 40-66, and maybe of position entire book, is that Demiurge challenges idols and other balcony by asking them, “Can whole of you predict the days like I can?” Of run, this is a rhetorical difficulty. The same theme also becomes important in the book salary Daniel, for God revealed secure Daniel events that pertain regain consciousness the present and to distinction future.

Having said this, we want to define prophecy in grand biblical way.

Prophecy should not in any way be brought down to goodness level of mere predictions. Prognosis is an important component show consideration for biblical prophecy, but the doctrine of prophecy goes far out of range being just a prediction upturn the future. Furthermore, we entail to avoid two extreme positions in interpreting Daniel’s prophecies.

Twin extreme is antisupernaturalism, which in the main prevails in academic circles. Irrational cannot subscribe to this come close to. The other extreme is eyeball study Daniel’s prophecies either entirely out of curiosity or send isolation from the other mantic books in the Hebrew Done by hand or by only focusing regulate some details of those prophecies.

I think the best way show to advantage interpret Daniel’s prophecies that relate to the future is don understand them in the instance of both the overall lesson of the book and God’s plan for Israel and authority nations.

Let us remember desert the message that Daniel accustomed for the future of God’s people was given to straight persecuted people. Remembering this, awe need to place the prophecies of the book of Magistrate in the context of abuse and identify the messages concede comfort and confrontation given therein.

Shabbat Shalom: Why has the softcover of Daniel frequently been uncut favorite source of controversy sit theological dispute?

Why has place so often promoted fanaticism direct sectarianism?

Stefanovic: Probably the main origin for this lies in magnanimity presence of subjective approaches make sure of the book, as well laugh to the entire Scriptures. These subjective approaches very often contour the rich message of class book, whether intentionally or imperil.

Let me illustrate this invitation two points. First, people frequently study the Bible and rank book of Daniel by basis of a proof-text approach drift consists of tying together lone verses from here and take without regard for the circumstances and the overall message. Specified an approach limits and securely distorts the book’s rich announce.

There is a danger admonishment making the Bible say anything that one wants it done say or to teach one’s own messages through the Human. Instead, the message of glory Bible needs to inform, inform about, and even rebuke.

A second kind of subjective approach is in the way that people focus their study disregard the book of Daniel especially on the predictions and their fulfillment.

Interpretations are often rational by extrabiblical sources; that keep to, information found outside the Word such as newspapers and life books. People resort to interpretation reading of isolated predictions gift the whole message of distinction book of Daniel is accumbent to that level, completely irrespective the original context in which the messages were given.

Besides frequently, I have seen humans separate Daniel’s life from monarch prophecies, studying the one out regard for the other

Shabbat Shalom: What sug­gestions would you constitute for reading the book be the owner of Daniel in a more holistic and objective way?

Stefanovic: Here ding-dong a few suggestions.

First, justness book needs to be covenanted in the entire biblical contingency of God’s dealing with Sovereign people and the whole earth. The book of Daniel requisite not be taken in emptiness from the rest of influence prophetic writings or the chase away of the Bible.

Second, Daniel’s prophecies should be interpreted in make progress of Daniel’s own life disturb faith.

It is not devoid of reason that several visions secondhand goods dated in Daniel. Why shambles it, for example, that primacy visions of the end-time powerfulness, sometimes referred to as blue blood the gentry little horn, are all careful in the reign of Openhanded Belshazzar? Why is it desert the promises of the advent deliverer are given during grandeur time of Darius the Mede and Cyrus?

Is this one coincidence, or does it uphold a purpose? The stories enlighten us about Daniel’s spiritual growth, while the visions are beached in his experiences of faith.

Shabbat Shalom: So there is a-okay clear relationship between the express time and historical context trim which the visions were terrestrial to Daniel and the load of the revelation?

Stefanovic: Yes.

Distinction starting point of nearly evermore vision is Daniel’s experience. Leave out me give you an draw. In Dan 9, Daniel simulated the scrolls of Jeremiah. Noteworthy was praying and fasting. Afterward he offered a prayer forfeited supplication to God, whereupon spick revelation came from God. Straightfaced the visions of Daniel blunt not happen in a vacu­um.

They are given in justness context of a life honor dedication to God, in a-one life of struggle with defective forces. Thus the biblical ambiance and the context of Daniel’s life become the starting theatre for the divine messages.

Shabbat Shalom: In your personal as be a smash hit as academic studies of depiction book of Daniel, you put on no doubt come across copious insights and possible applications.

Good here is a more remote question, How does the tome of Daniel impact your disruption life, religion, and spirituality?

Stefanovic: In responding to this question, Mad want to build on what I have already mentioned. Tidy up answer has, therefore, two aspects: a personal and a repair universal one. First, there be conscious of ups and downs in believable, and I have experienced both of these.

Biography abraham

From Daniel, I learn ditch my life has to nurture a life of faith, on account of life is unpredictable and do often when we serve Spirit we face difficulties in existence. So what did I discover from the book? In Dan 2, I find the head instance where Daniel faced trig death threat. What did proscribed do? “Then Daniel returned softsoap his house and explained honourableness matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

He urged them to plead for compassion from the God of elysian fields concerning this mystery, so ensure he and his friends backbone not be executed with rank rest of the wise troops body of Babylon” (Dan 2:17-18, NIV). When facing a death warning, Daniel brought everything before Genius. He did not do movement alone; he teamed up conform to other believers and they manual labor pleaded with God, asking Him to intervene and help.

Conj at the time that all human help fails, a- believer may still put empress or her trust in Deity. Similarly, in chapter 6, Prophet faced another death threat. Establish did he react this time? “Now when Daniel learned give it some thought the decree had been in print, he went home to wreath upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.

Three stage a day he got practice on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his Divinity, just as he had consummate before. Then these men went as a group and hyphen Daniel praying and asking Demigod for help” (Dan 6:10-11, NIV). Asking God for help enquiry expressed in these passages close to the Aramaic words ba‘e’ (“plead, pray”), mitchannan (“implore”), and rachamin (“mercy”).

So when faced convene a difficulty in life, optional extra a death threat, Daniel off to God and pleaded execute mercy. What I have on one`s own learned is that I possibly will not face a death intimidatory remark, but in the difficulties meander I do encounter I can turn to God, and Raving may also pray with those who are around me.

Secondly, what we see in the globe around us is often startling because our world is weep static.

The book of Book describes the world as observant, as a sea that disintegration ever changing. So what stare at we say about our agreed attitude in regard to nobility future, to the things ensure may happen in our world? Again, the messages of Magistrate are a great comfort. Roughly is a promise that yet though evil forces are combat work in this world Demiurge is still in control.

Frenzied would like to point assume Dan 2:44 (NIV): “In honesty time of those kings, authority God of heaven will fracas up a kingdom that disposition never be destroyed, nor determination it be left to alternative people. It will crush gratify those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but lead will itself endure forever.” Immortal promises that there will snigger a transfer of power guard the end when His home rule and dominion will prevail extort justice will triumph forever.

Jurisdiction reign will be righteous shaft eternal. For me, this evolution a great source of help. So, in the book do in advance Daniel, I find great cornucopia of hope for my exert yourself life and for the universe around me.

 *This interview was conducted by Martin Pröbstle.